Located in downtown El Paso, Texas, the El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) serves around 100,000 visitors each year as the only accredited art museum within a 250-mile radius. Founded in 1959 and housed in a facility completed in 1998, EPMA offers a rich experience for travelers exploring the culture of West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. When you visit, you will encounter an impressive permanent collection alongside engaging special exhibitions.
The museum is best known for its 57-piece Samuel H. Kress collection of 12th–18th-century European art, which features works by renowned masters like Canaletto, Artemisia Gentileschi, Filippino Lippi, and Anthony van Dyck. Beyond European classics, you can explore North American art from figures such as Childe Hassam, Frederic Remington, and Gilbert Stuart.
EPMA also showcases a major collection of contemporary Southwestern U.S. and Mexican artists, emphasizing border-region voices like Luis Jiménez, Donald Judd, and Carmen Lomas Garza. Additional collections highlight Pre-Columbian and Mexican colonial art, 19th- to mid-20th-century American works, and an extensive array of prints and photographs. To round out your trip, the museum offers film series, lectures, concerts, storytelling sessions, and art classes.
What to see at El Paso Museum of Art
- Famous 57-piece Samuel H. Kress collection of European art from the 12th to 18th centuries
- North American masterpieces by Frederic Remington, Childe Hassam, and Gilbert Stuart
- Contemporary Southwestern and Mexican art focused on Texas, New Mexico, and the border region
- Pre-Columbian art, Mexican colonial art, and a vast collection of works on paper
- Dynamic public programs including film series, lectures, concerts, and art classes
Visiting tips
Check the museum's schedule before you go to catch one of their film series, lectures, or concerts during your visit.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
El Paso Museum of Art is easy to reach on El Paso’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our El Paso travel guide.
See the full El Paso travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.